The economics pathway · 2026–27
GCSEs come first. The decision that matters for economics is A-level choice: Maths, and whether Further Maths is offered. Keep any extras small and enjoyable.
Confirmed seen on the official page. Last year’s timing a month only, not a deadline. Not yet confirmed check the official page.
English-Speaking Union · Debating and MUN
Closes Wed 16 September 2026
Registration for 2026-27 closed 16 Sep 2026
Who can apply: Ages 11-18 (Y7-Y13), school teams
Helps with: Interview, CV
Rochester Independent College (on behalf of the IEO Committee) · Olympiad
Usually opens in September; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Secondary students aged 19 or under; RIC recommends at least age 14 (GCSE/A-level level questions)
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview, CV
UK Mathematics Trust · Olympiad
On Wed 7 October 2026
Wed 7 Oct 2026; answer sheets uploaded by Thu 8 Oct 2026, 11:59pm.
Who can apply: Year 13 or below, entered by school
Cost: School entry fee
Helps with: Personal statement
Immerse Education (commercial) · Essay competition
Opens Mon 3 August 2026 · Closes Sun 25 October 2026
The 2027 round ran 3 Aug to 25 Oct 2026 and has closed; results 9 Nov 2026.
Who can apply: Ages 13-18
Helps with: Personal statement, CV
English-Speaking Union · Debating and MUN
From Wed 4 November 2026 to Tue 24 November 2026
Round One 4-24 Nov 2026, in person; exact heat date/venue set by draw
Who can apply: Registered school teams
Helps with: Interview, CV
CamMUN · Debating and MUN
Usually opens in September; we’ll confirm · Usually closes in November; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Ages 14-18, as part of a school delegation via a faculty advisor (no individual applications)
Helps with: Interview, CV
Uehiro Oxford Institute · Essay competition
Opens Fri 4 September 2026 · Closes Mon 4 January 2027, 16:00
Video entries by 4pm, Mon 4 Jan 2027; winners mid-Feb; final in Oxford 23 Mar 2027.
Who can apply: UK-based teams of 3-5 students in Y11-Y13 (S4-S6; NI Y12-14); video entry
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview
UKMT · Olympiad
Closes Wed 6 January 2027
Physical papers by Wed 6 Jan 2027; Braille/large print by Wed 30 Dec 2026; downloadable papers by Wed 27 Jan 2027.
Who can apply: School entry; intermediate level (Y9-Y11)
Cost: School entry fee
UKMT · Olympiad
On Wed 27 January 2027
Wed 27 Jan 2027; answer sheets uploaded by Thu 28 Jan 2027, 11:59pm.
Who can apply: School entry; intermediate level (Y9-Y11)
Cost: School entry fee
English-Speaking Union · Debating and MUN
From Mon 11 January 2027 to Fri 29 January 2027
Round Two 11-29 Jan 2027; regional final draw sent 9 Feb 2027
Who can apply: Teams progressing from Round One
Helps with: Interview, CV
English-Speaking Union · Debating and MUN
From Wed 3 March 2027 to Wed 17 March 2027
Regional finals 3-17 Mar 2027, date set by region (e.g. South-East 16 Mar, East 17 Mar)
Who can apply: Teams progressing from Round Two
Helps with: Interview, CV
Rochester Independent College · Olympiad
Usually in March; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Registered BEO entrants
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview, CV
Deloitte UK · Work experience
Opens in March
ASPIRE 2027: Virtual 21-23 Jul 2027; TBC 26-28 Jul 2027; London 3-5 Aug 2027
Who can apply: ASPIRE: Y12 England/Wales (Y13 NI, S5 Scotland), state school, socio-economic or first-generation criterion, on track for 104 UCAS points. Explore Work: Y9-11 England/Wales, Y10-12 NI, S2-S4 Scotland
Helps with: CV
Royal Institute of Philosophy · Essay competition
Closes Mon 19 April 2027, 23:59
Deadline midnight (BST), Mon 19 Apr 2027; essay by email plus application form.
Who can apply: Aged 15-18 on the deadline, any nationality, anywhere; max 1,200 words; one of five questions
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview
The Orwell Foundation · Essay competition
Opens in November · Closes Wed 28 April 2027, 23:59
Optional draft feedback deadline 23:59 BST, Wed 3 Mar 2027.
Who can apply: Age 11-19 by closing date, in full-time education in the UK; up to 1,000 words (Y7-11) or 1,500 words (Y12-13)
Helps with: Personal statement, CV
English-Speaking Union · Debating and MUN
Usually in April; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: 12 regional champions
Helps with: Interview, CV
MUN London · Debating and MUN
Usually in April; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Secondary school students
Helps with: Interview, CV
John Locke Institute · Essay competition
Usually opens in February; we’ll confirm · Usually closes in May; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Students from any country, under 19 on the regular submission deadline; junior category for younger entrants
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview, CV
Royal Economic Society / Discover Economics, sponsored by KPMG UK · Essay competition
Usually opens in March; we’ll confirm · Usually closes in June; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Students in Years 10 to 13 (or equivalent); entries as blog, presentation, podcast or video on one of five economic issues
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview, CV
University of Oxford · Open day
From Wed 30 June 2027 to Thu 1 July 2027
Wed 30 Jun and Thu 1 Jul 2027
Who can apply: Prospective applicants (Y12, Y11)
University of Cambridge · Open day
From Thu 8 July 2027 to Fri 9 July 2027
Thu 8 and Fri 9 Jul 2027; booking opens mid-March 2027
Who can apply: Prospective applicants in Y12 (Y13 NI, S5 Scotland) and mature applicants, with parents and supporters
The Marshall Society (University of Cambridge economics society) · Essay competition
Usually opens in July; we’ll confirm · Usually closes in August; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: Pre-university students worldwide
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview
King's College, Cambridge (Entrepreneurship Lab) · Essay competition
Usually opens in May; we’ll confirm · Usually closes in August; we’ll confirm
Who can apply: UK-based students in Y11-Y13 (S4-S6 Scotland; Y12-14 NI)
Helps with: Personal statement, CV
The Concord Review, Inc. (US) · Essay competition
Rolling. Issue cut-offs: 1 Aug (Winter), 1 Nov (Spring), 1 Feb (Summer), 1 May (Fall); essays eligible for the next three issues.
Who can apply: Sole-author history paper completed before finishing secondary school; in English; not previously published outside school
Cost: Submission fee $90 (USD), listed price, with a 1-year eBook subscription
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview, CV
London Institute of Banking & Finance · Competition
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Ages 14-19, teams of four registered by a teacher (TRN); overseas teams round one only
Helps with: CV
Young Enterprise · Competition
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Students in a registered school/centre; up to 32 per student company
Cost: GBP 560 per student company (state schools) or GBP 2,500 (independent schools) per official programme page (year not stated)
Helps with: Personal statement, CV
University of Oxford · Reading and courses
Always open online: Big Questions, classroom resources and competitions
Who can apply: Ages 11-18
Helps with: Personal statement
MIT OpenCourseWare / Khan Academy / Coursera · Reading and courses
Always open; 14.01 Fall 2023 (Gruber): lecture videos, problem sets, exams with solutions
Who can apply: Anyone
Helps with: Personal statement, Interview
LSE (requirement); schools/exam boards · Decision
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Y11-Y12 choosing A-levels
Helps with: Personal statement
University of Oxford colleges · Summer school or access programme
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Academically able students at non-selective state schools with little history of progression to Oxford; Y10 to Y13 events; Y12 study days open to Y12/S5 at non-selective state schools UK-wide. (BeUNIQ separately targets Y10-11 at UK state schools.)
Villiers Park Educational Trust · Summer school or access programme
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Young people aged 11-19 from under-represented backgrounds, through partner schools and colleges in Villiers Park's areas (Hastings and Bexhill, Tyneside, Swindon and Wiltshire, Norwich, Cambridgeshire).
JPMorganChase (applications via Uptree) · Work experience
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Ages 14-16: Year 10-11 England (S3-S4 Scotland) at programme start. Locations: London, Bournemouth, Glasgow, Edinburgh.
Helps with: CV
Springpod / UCAS · Work experience
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Generally 13+/14+ (ages are guideline; some programmes region-restricted)
Helps with: Personal statement, CV
Speakers for Schools (now 'Futures For All') · Work experience
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Ages 14-19 at state schools/colleges in the UK
Helps with: CV, Personal statement
HSBC UK · Work experience
Dates not confirmed yet; check the official page.
Who can apply: Secondary school students (exact year groups not shown); 2022 scheme was open to full-time secondary/sixth form/college students
Helps with: CV, Personal statement
The eligibility checker shows what is open to you this year. For reading and short modules, try Ceteris Learn.